NBA Rumors: Cleveland Cavaliers interested in Mike D’Antoni, Vinny Del Negro, Alvin Gentry
Now that the Cleveland Cavaliers have fired head coach Mike Brown, it looks like current Chicago Bulls’ assistant coach Adrian Griffin will be a candidate for the job.
New general manager David Griffin (who was the interim general manager) was given the job full time and is clearly looking to make a splash.
According to Marc Stein of ESPN.com, the Cavaliers aren’t just interested in a young, fresh coach, they could also explore the possibility of a few retreads, including Mike D’Antoni, Vinny Del Negro and Alvin Gentry.
Question sure to be asked: How much consideration will Mike D'Antoni/Vinny Del Negro get in Cleveland after working w/David Griffin in PHX
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 12, 2014
And Clippers assistant coach Alvin Gentry, for that matter, is a very natural target for new GM David Griffin after their PHX stint together
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 12, 2014
As Stein points out, all three of the coaches have worked with Griffin in the past with D’Antoni having the most success. He coached the Suns from 2003-2008, twice reaching the Western Conference Finals and helping Steve Nash win the MVP Award twice. He could really make Kyrie Irving into more of a star. D’Antoni was fired by the Los Angeles Lakers after the season.
Del Negro coached both the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers. He was formally the Suns’ assistant general manager.
Gentry has coached the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons and Clippers in addition to the Suns. He is currently a Clippers’ assistant.